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Latvia women's national football team

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This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Latvia national football team.

Latvia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Sarkanbaltsarkanie
(Red-white-red)
AssociationLatvijas Futbola federācija
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachRomāns Kvačovs
Most capsAnastasija Ročāne (80)
Top scorerKarlīna Miksone (18)
FIFA codeLVA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 117 Steady (13 December 2024)[1]
Highest61 (December 2004 – March 2005; December 2005 – May 2006)
Lowest119 (October – December 2022; June – August 2023)
First international
 Sweden 9–0 Latvia 
(Nynäshamn; Sweden 18 August 1993)
Biggest win
 Latvia 6–0 Lebanon 
(Geroskipou, Cyprus; 13 March 2015)
Biggest defeat
 England 20–0 Latvia 
(Doncaster, England; 30 November 2021)
Websitelff.lv/izlases/sieviesu-izlases/nacionala-sieviesu-izlase/

The Latvia women's national football team (Latvian: Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase) represents Latvia in international football and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia. They have never qualified for the major tournament.

Latvia, alongside their Baltic rivals, Lithuania and Estonia, is also participating in the local sub-regional Women's Baltic Cup, which takes place every year. Latvia has won this tournament five times, the first time in 1997. The next moment of triumph had to wait until 2011, and in 2017, 2018 and 2019 Latvia won the trophy three years in a row.

History

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In the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), women's football was not a recognized sport – in 1972, the Sports Committee of the USSR even banned women's football competitions. That is why women played the first official football matches in Latvia only in 1989, when the first women's team "Latvija" was created. The players were mostly invited from other sports, so the football players had good physical preparation, and several players from Lithuania were also invited to help. In 1990, the team was renamed to RAF Jelgava, participating in the first championship of the highest league of the USSR, where they took eighth place in the competition of 24 teams. RAF played one more season in the top league of the USSR, but another team from Latvia – Ogres "Fortūna" – competed in the first league of the USSR. After the collapse of the USSR, the "RAF" professional team disbanded, and thus women's football in Latvia continued to exist only at the amateur level.[2]

On 18 August 1993, The Latvian women's national team made its debut and played its first international match in the European Championship qualification tournament, losing in the first match away to Sweden, which was already one of the most important women's football countries in the world at the time.[3]

After the first qualifying tournament, Latvia did not participate anymore in European Championship qualifying tournaments until 2006. Changes had already been introduced in the selection system, by holding the previous preliminary tournament for the weakest European national teams before the qualification, which the Latvian national team never managed to overcome, which meant that Latvia did not have the opportunity to meet the best national women's football teams in Europe for a long time.[4]

After participating in the UEFA Women's Euro 1995 qualifying[5] and withdrew from all qualification until the qualification for the European Championships in 2009.

Latvia's record upon its return to international qualification games was poor. Latvia lost their first two games, against Israel and Bosnia and Herzegovina by three goals, before losing by one goal to Armenia.[6] Mini-tournaments after the qualification disaster proved no better for Latvia. Finishing last, in December 2008, Latvia lost 0–3 to Croatia and 0–5 to Turkey.[7]

The first victory

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Latvia won its first official match on 5 March 2011 over Lithuania in the qualifying 2013 European Championship preliminary round with a lone goal by Jūlija Sokolova.[8][9] However, Latvia lost the other two games against Luxembourg and Macedonia so the team didn't go through.[citation needed]

First World Cup qualification

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In 2013, the Latvian women's national team took part in the World Cup qualification tournament for the first time, in the first round of the preliminaries, they drew 0:0 with Luxembourg in their debut match,[10] but then lost 0–2 to Albania and Malta.[citation needed] After four years, the Latvian women's national team won the first victory in the World Cup selection, defeating Estonia 4–0 in the preliminaries,[citation needed] but it was not enough to enter the basic qualification tournament, as the first place in the group was won by the national team of Kazakhstan, with whom Latvian football players played a draw 2–2.[citation needed]

Modern times

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The Latvian women's football team won its first World Cup qualification victory against Luxembourg.[11] Latvia won its first World Cup qualification victory on 24 June 2022 over Lithuania in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D with a lone goal by Nelle Treimane.[citation needed]

On November 30, 2021, the Latvian national team lost to England in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D match with 20–0. After the game, this game received a huge amount of attention, shining a light on the shortcomings of the qualifiers and European women qualifying system. Several experts emphasized that such a game should not have happened. This game again sparked discussions about going back to pre-qualification.[12]

Stadium

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In October 2023, Latvian Football Federation president Vadims Ļašenko said that Skonto Stadium would become the main home of the men's team, with Daugava Stadium serving as a backup and the venue for the women's and youth national teams.[13] Previously, the women's team has played in various grounds, including Arkādija Stadium and the LNK Sports Park in Riga, Sloka Stadium in Jūrmala, Zemgale Olympic Center in Jelgava and others.

Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2024

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23 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League Play-offs Latvia  0–3  Slovakia Riga, Latvia
16:30 UTC+2 Report Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks
27 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League Play-offs Slovakia  6–0
(9–0 agg.)		  Latvia Trnava, Slovakia
18:00 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium
Note: Slovakia won 9–0 on aggregate, and therefore both teams remained in their respective leagues.
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying Latvia  3–4  North Macedonia Riga
 Report
Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks
Attendance: 208
Referee: Lovisa Johansson (Sweden)
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying Moldova  0–1  Latvia Chișinău
Report
Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Referee: Teresa Oliveira (Portugal)
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying Slovenia  6–0  Latvia Murska Sobota
18:00
Report Stadium: Fazanerija City Stadium
Attendance: 549
Referee: Ana Maria Terteleac (Romania)
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying Latvia  0–4  Slovenia Jūrmala
17:00 (18:00 UTC+3) Report
Stadium: Sloka Stadium
Attendance: 224
Referee: Sofiya Prychyna (Ukraine)
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying Latvia  2–1  Moldova Riga
20:00
Report
Stadium: Daugava Stadium
Attendance: 603
Referee: Milica Milovanovic
24 October 2024 Women's Baltic Cup Latvia  2–1  Faroe Islands Riga, Latvia
19:00 Miksone 28', 75' Report Ryan 57' Stadium: Jānis Skredelis' Stadium
Attendance: 247
Referee: Ugnė Šmitaitė (Lithuania)
27 October 2024 Women's Baltic Cup Latvia  0–1  Estonia Riga, Latvia
18:00 Report Saulus 66' Stadium: Jānis Skredelis' Stadium
Attendance: 415
Referee: Jurgita Mačikunytė (Lithuania)

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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As of 22 February 2024
Role Name
Head Coach Latvia Romāns Kvačovs
Assistant coach Latvia Anna Poņatovska
Assistant coach Latvia Kirils Buravcevs
Goalkeeping coach Latvia Marks Bogdanovs
Physiotherapist Latvia Mārtiņš Kacens
Team doctor Latvia Anastasija Oprisņaka
Kit manager Latvia Jevgēnijs Vasjukovs
Team manager Latvia Marta Lielause

Manager history

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  • Latvia Viktors Lūkins (1992–1993)
  • Latvia Vladimirs Serbins (1994–1996)
  • Latvia Grigorijs Rožkovs (1996–2003)
  • Latvia Agris Bandolis (2003–2010)[14]
  • Latvia Didzis Matīss (2010–2021)
  • Latvia Romāns Kvačovs (2021–present)[15]

Players

[edit]
See also: Category:Latvia women's international footballers

Current squad

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The following players have been called up for the Women's Baltic Cup 2024 in October 2024.[16]

Caps and goals are correct as of 17 July 2024.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Enija Anna Vaivode (1993-12-28) 28 December 1993 (age 30) 28 0 Latvia Riga FC Women
1 1GK Sofija Ņesterova (2001-08-06) 6 August 2001 (age 23) 17 0 Latvia RFS Women
23 1GK Elza Renāte Strazdiņa (2006-12-29) 29 December 2006 (age 17) 2 0 Latvia FS Jelgava
2DF Marina Teļukeviča (2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 (age 19) 3 0 Latvia FK RFS Women
10 2DF Anastasija Ročāne (1992-06-07) 7 June 1992 (age 32) 80 3 Greece Asteras Tripolis FC
2 2DF Sofija Garanča (2004-05-28) 28 May 2004 (age 20) 18 2 Latvia Riga FC Women
2DF Fanija Mežecka (2002-07-22) 22 July 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Latvia FS Metta (women)
2DF Renāte Gaugere 0 0 Latvia Riga FC Women
13 2DF Sandra Voitāne (1999-05-20) 20 May 1999 (age 25) 64 15 Iceland ÍBV
7 2DF Paula Liniņa (2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 23) 27 0 Latvia FS Metta Women
22 2DF Sofija Gergeležiu (2003-08-31) 31 August 2003 (age 21) 15 0 Latvia RFS Women
2DF Anna Hropataja 0 0 Latvia RFS Women
18 3MF Anna Marija Valaka (1999-11-14) 14 November 1999 (age 25) 23 0 Latvia RFS Women
3MF Amēlija Lipšāne (2005-03-31) 31 March 2005 (age 19) 8 0 Latvia FS Metta (women)
8 3MF Viktorija Zaičikova (2000-08-04) 4 August 2000 (age 24) 59 4 Iceland ÍBV
3MF Anna Kristīne Gornela (1997-09-09) 9 September 1997 (age 27) 19 0 Latvia Riga FC Women
19 3MF Karlīna Miksone (2000-03-21) 21 March 2000 (age 24) 67 18 Poland Czarni Sosnowiec
15 3MF Anastasija Čemirtāne (1999-10-17) 17 October 1999 (age 25) 21 1 Latvia RFS Women
11 4FW Diāna Suvitra (2002-01-09) 9 January 2002 (age 22) 16 3 Latvia Riga FC Women
17 3MF Signija Šenberga (2003-03-13) 13 March 2003 (age 21) 10 0 Latvia FS Metta Women
3MF Katrīna Daņilova (2004-05-10) 10 May 2004 (age 20) 7 0 Cyprus Aris Limassol FC
9 4FW Anastasija Poļuhoviča (2005-03-06) 6 March 2005 (age 19) 23 6 Latvia RFS Women
19 4FW Santa Sanija Vuškāne (2005-11-22) 22 November 2005 (age 19) 3 0 Latvia FS Metta Women

Recent call ups

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The following players have been called up to the Latvia squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Alīna Skļemenova (2004-03-15) 15 March 2004 (age 20) 1 0 Latvia RFS Women v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024
DF Ligita Tumāne (1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 (age 28) 28 0 Italy ASD Spezia v.  Slovakia,27 February 2024
DF Kristīne Evelīna Lodziņa (1998-08-28) 28 August 1998 (age 26) 4 0 Latvia FS Metta (women) v.  Slovakia,27 February 2024
DF Anna Flakse (1999-01-31) 31 January 1999 (age 25) 35 0 Latvia Liepājas Futbola skola v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024
DF Anastasija Vainere (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20) 7 0 Latvia RFS Women v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024
DF Aleksandra Sofija Mairna (2003-12-10) 10 December 2003 (age 21) 6 0 United States Michigan State University v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024
DF Selga Penelope Vitmore (2002-03-10) 10 March 2002 (age 22) 10 0 Latvia RFS Women v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024
MF Nelle Treimane (2003-11-12) 12 November 2003 (age 21) 13 1 Latvia FS Metta (women) v.  Andorra, 1 December 2023
MF Taisija Smirnova (2003-09-24) 24 September 2003 (age 21) 5 0 Latvia Liepājas Futbola skola v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024
FW Olga Ševcova (1992-11-26) 26 November 1992 (age 32) 60 14 Turkey Fenerbahçe v.  Moldova, 17 July 2024

Records

[edit]
See also: Category:Latvia women's international footballers
*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 19 August 2021.

Most Capped Players

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As of 25 October 2024
Rank Player Year(s) Caps
1 Anastasija Ročāne 2011- 81
2 Karlīna Miksone 2015- 68
3 Sandra Voitāne 2015- 65
4 Olga Ševcova 2011- 60
5 Viktorija Zaičikova 2017- 60
6 Renāte Fedotova 2013-2022 49
7 Elīza Spruntule 2011-2021 49
8 Kristīne Giržda 2012-2021 47
9 Marija Ibragimova 2012-2019 38
10 Anna Flakse 2017- 35

Top goalscorers

[edit]
As of 25 October 024
Rank Player Year(s) Goals Caps
1 Karlīna Miksone 2015- 20 68
2 Renāte Fedotova 2013- 15 49
3 Sandra Voitāne 2015- 15 65
4 Olga Ševcova 2011- 14 60
5 Liene Vāciete 2015-2017 7 21
6 Anastasija Poļuhoviča 2022- 6 24
7 Viktorija Zaičikova 2017- 4 60
8 Anastasija Ročāne 2011- 3 81
9 Diāna Suvitra 2023- 3 17
10 Sofija Garanča 2023- 2 19

Competitive record

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FIFA Women's World Cup

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FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA GD Pld W D* L GF GA GD
China 1991 Did not exist Did not exist
Sweden 1995 Did not qualify UEFA Euro 1995
United States 1999 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 2003
China 2007
Germany 2011
Canada 2015 Did not qualify 3 0 1 2 0 4 –4
France 2019 3 1 2 0 7 3 +4
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 10 1 0 9 8 63 –55
Brazil 2027 To be determined To be determined
Total – – – – – – – – 16 2 3 11 15 70 0
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

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UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA P/R Rnk
1984 to Italy 1993 Did not exist Did not exist
EnglandGermanyNorwaySweden 1995 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 1 18 –
NorwaySweden 1997 Did not enter Did not enter
Germany 2001
England 2005
Finland 2009 Did not qualify 3 0 0 3 1 8 –
Sweden 2013 3 1 0 2 1 3
Netherlands 2017 3 1 1 1 5 5
England 2022 8 0 0 8 2 39
Switzerland 2025 6 3 0 3 8 16 Same position[a] 42nd
2029 To be determined To be determined
Total – – – – – – – 27 5 1 21 18 89 42nd
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Nations League

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UEFA Women's Nations League record
Year League Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R Rnk
2023–24 C 1 2nd 8 3 1 4 17 15 Same position* 38th
2025 C 6 To be determined
Total 8 3 1 4 17 15 38th
Rise Promoted at end of season
Same position No movement at end of season
Fall Relegated at end of season
* Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs

Women's Baltic Cup

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Baltic Cup record
Year Result
1996 Runners-up
1997 Champions
1998 Third place
2003 Third place
2004 Third place
2005 Third place
2006 Third place
2007 Third place
2008 Third place
2009 Third place
2010 Third place
2011 Champions
2012 Third place
2013 Third place
2014 Third place
2015 Third place
2016 Runners-up
2017 Champions
2018 Champions
2019 Champions
2021 Fourth place
2022 Fourth place
Total 21/21

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ From Euro 2025 onwards a new qualifying format was introduced, linked to the Women's Nations League where teams are divided into leagues with promotion/relegation between the leagues at the end of each cycle.

References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ Girvičs, Kristians. "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase". enciklopedija.lv. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Sweden - Latvia". UEFA.com. UEFA. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  4. ^ Girvičs, Kristiāns. "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase (in latvian)". Enciklopedija.lv. Nacionālā enciklopēdija. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Women EURO Qualifiers 1993/1994 » Group 4". Worldoffootball.net. World of Football. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Latvia [Women] » Fixtures & Results 2006". Worldoffootball.net. World of Football. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Latvia [Women] » Fixtures & Results 2008". Worldoffootball.net. World of Football. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. ^ Statistics of the match in UEFA's website
  9. ^ "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlasei uzvara pār Lietuvu Eiropas čempionāta kvalifikācijas priekšsacīkšu turnīra spēlē". Liepajniekiem.lv. LETA. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Luxembourg - Latvia 0:0". Worldoffootball.net. World of Football. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  11. ^ Brože, Ulvis (24 June 2022). "Vēsturiska diena Latvijas sieviešu futbolam - pirmā uzvara Pasaules kausa kvalifikācijā". Sportacentrs.com. Sportacentrs. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  12. ^ Jayanta, Oinam. "20-nil thrashing against England a wake-up call for Latvia's women's football". FIFA.com. FIFA. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  13. ^ Kļavenieks, Mārtiņš (28 September 2023). "«Daugavas» stadions pārtop: vieglatlēti gaida manēžu; drīz mainīs futbola zālienu un skrejceliņu". LSM.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Latvijas sieviešu futbola izlase". Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Par Latvijas sieviešu izlases galveno treneri iecelts Kvačovs". Sportacentrs.com. Sportacentrs. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Sieviešu izlase sanāk kopā uz Baltijas kausa turnīru Rīgā". LFF. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
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